The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-25

such hopeless intensity as by young
Miguel Cortez, one Of the youngest
members of the baud, with nothing to
recommend him bpt handsome face
and figure, aud the reputation of being
an unerring marksmau. Of course
Mauuela wes not insensible to the de.
votion paid her by Miguel but her
father, who knew most things that
went on around him, gave the young
man to clearly understand that he had
other views for bis daughter than to
let her marry one of the poorest of his
followers.
. However, time went on; Pedro Gar
cia and his men gained universal noto-
riety by their daring reprisals on the
hated enemies and invaders of their
beloved country. Many were the ex-
peditions sent out against them for the
purpose If surprising them in their
mountain businesses, only to return to
camp beaten and disorganized, with
marvellous tales of their strategy and
ferocity. One young man especially
was always mentioned as though he
bore a charmed life and to such an
extent had this belief grown that the
French commandant, to encourage his
men, offered large reward should he
be taken or killed. Needless to saw
this was Miguel Cortez.
Now, none of all this was lost upon
Manuela for Miguels fostermother, who
was also her duenna and humble com.
panion, would pour forth her praises
and recount all his deeds of daring and
the dangers he ran into Manuela's not
unwilling ear, until at last her heart
fairly melted and she told Miguel,
when next he pleaded for kind word,
that let her father try to dispose of her
hand a. he liked, she would never wed
any other than Miguel Cortez. Some
little time after the guerrilla scouts
brought Pedro Garcia word that an at
tacking force of unusual strength was
being sent against him. Carefully Sc
Letting his most trusted followers he
posted them in places where almost in.
visible themselves any one approach
ing their camp was at their mercy !;
and to the one who should succeed in
capturing the leader he promised that
he should receive Manuela as his bride,
and be made second only to himself in
the band.
How proud Manuela felt of her
lover, when he stepped for
ward and begged his chief to let him
have the foremost post, aud ere he de-
parted he bent before her, and, kissing
her hand, murmured:
with such prize before, Senorita,
| shall succeed
What time of suspense did Juana
and her charge endure all that day and
night! and when the sound of heavy
firing was heard echoing through the
hills, Msnuela's anxiety became almost
uncomfortable, and with difficulty was
she restrained by Juana from rushing
down the steep pathway to try to gain
Intelligence.
At length she heard the steady
ramp of number of armed men com
ng up the mountain. "Oh! they are
,omingl they are coming, mia madra"
she cried; and the two women ran to
he edge of the parapet, which had
been built for the better protection of
he hut-for it was little better-should
t be attacked unawares.
Juana listened, then shook her head.
That is not the way our men generally
,ome back" she said doubttully. "Oh,
,oly Virgin, what is that?" for as she
poke a sharp volley rang through the
wood simultaneously with a piercing
,ry for "Manuela."
"Child, child! y she continued, ''re-
member your fathers commands do
lot leave this plateau come back, Ma
luela" striving to hold the girl, who
inng off her restraining grasp, and
With distracted looks disappeared down
he mountain.
No one could tell exactly how it Lad
happened among some of the guerril-
as who escaped there were whispers of
reachery. At the moment when Gar
ia and his chief men imagined they
lad driven back the enemy, a fresh
orce attacked them in the rear. Thus
panic seized them and Garcia
md Miguel we're, after desperate re-
istanoe, made prisoners. By order of
he Commandante Lamonte they were
marched to an open place and there
hot
Such was the sight which met Ma
uela's eyes, as like a mad woman she
urst through the row of French SOL
lers who had fred the fatal volley.
hey were resting on their muskets,
1hile the commandant and two SER
eants examined the lifeless bodies of |
'edro Garcia and Miguel Cortez, and
he smoke from the late discharge still |
ung in faint wreath over the little |
'roup. With wild scream of agony, |
hat thrilled the hardened hearts of the |
french sold'ery, Manuela flung herself |
n the ground beside what had been so |
ately her brave, handsome young low
r, who had left her few hours ago
lied with such high hopes and the GER
ainty OF success, and in heartbreakiug |
ccents implored him to speak to her.
Then starting to her feet with the |
lry of one possessed, she stood before |
iamonte, and, cursing him and his de- |
and followers, fortold the de. |
truction and ruin that would shortly |
efall the French in Spain.
1t was after the decisive battle of |
'ictora the French were flying ter
or-stricken across the Pyrenees. In
ne panic many became separated from
heir comrades, and, strange to say
ideed, it might almost be called fate
lone night Lamonte and two or three |
bis soldiers found themselves cold,
cary and hungry close to this inn, |
here after the death of Garcia, Ma
uela and Juana had fled. A violent
.orm had commenced, and, rem iered |
esperate by their msfortunes, they re-
'lved to spend the night here, trusting |
lat the loneliness and seclusiou of the |
pot the news of the French reverses
'ould not be known. Telling his men |
be on the watch in case of a sur
rise, Lamonte retired to rest.
When Manuela discovered who was
n inmate of their house deadly re.